'If I was a young player why would I sign for Chelsea?'

It is hard to see Esevao as anything other than a successful investment with the teenager displaying his clear superstar potential in fits and starts during his debut campaign.

Garnacho and Gittens however, despite the latter being out with a hamstring injury since late January, have drawn criticism for their performances, with Garnacho in particular repeatedly linked with a move away already.

Blues fan Charlie Patrick told BBC Sport in January that the duo are "not good enough for Chelsea".

The graphics below show the Premier League minutes played by last summer's signings, excluding the aforementioned Buonanotte, Kendry Paez who was loaned back to Independiente and Mamadou Sarr who was loaned back to Strasbourg and recalled in January.

The fees exclude potentially substantial add-ons and are out of a potential of 3150 minutes.

![Chelsea’s 2025 summer signings

Joao Pedro — £60m — 2494 PL minutes Jamie Gittens — £48.5m — 490 PL minutes Alejandro Garnacho — £40m — 1267 PL minutes Estevao Willian — £29m — 846 PL minutes Jorrel Hato — £37m — 910 PL minutes Liam Delap — £30m — 1007 PL minutes Darrio Essugo — £18m — 85 PL minutes](https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/QklAeKcU6VNEeFu4Rl9gUg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTU0MDtjZj13ZWJw/https://media.zenfs.com/en/bbc_us_articles_995/c1a6b8a73e1740ab26f03828f899e2e4)

[BBC]

Joao Pedro has unquestionably been a success, Estevao has shown his huge potential, and more recently Jorrel Hato has stood out in a struggling side, but it is hard to make a case for any of the other additions having even close to the impact that would have been hoped of them.

While at many clubs a second season would be where a signing's impact and fit is fully assessed, there is nothing currently to suggest Chelsea's owners are slowing down in their relentless pursuit of top young talent.

Therefore, none of these players will be confident that their already limited minutes will increase.

Not only is the connection referenced by Carragher not being established, negative crowd reactions, in particular recently to Garnacho and Delap, are actively damaging relations between squad and supporters.

Considering the already low hit rate, with Pedro Neto the only addition from the 2024 summer window established in the first team and still splitting opinion himself, Carragher's concern over why young players sign for Chelsea appears to be valid.

While long-term contracts with guaranteed wages hold an appeal, surely the lack of success stories will heed caution when the most ambitious talents are looking for their next destination.